The MTA is working on plans to redevelop about 15 acres that it owns in the area surrounding the NoHo Red Line Station. There are actually two proposals which have been presented to the community, and it will be a while before any decisions are made. The first would be comprised of 750 residential units, 40,500 sq. ft. of retail, and 200,000 sq. ft. of office space. The second is significantly larger, including 1,500 residential units, 150,000 sq. ft. of retail, and 450,000 sq. ft. of office space.

The good news is that either version will include a hefty portion of affordable housing. The MTA's development guidelines require that a minimum of 35% of any residential project built by the agency be dedicated to affordable housing. After years of seeing new development push low-income residents away from transit hubs, hopefully this project signals a reversal in that trend. The majority of the MTA's riders earn well below LA's median income, and they need easy access to public transit.

But it will be a long time before either project moves forward. The plans have just been presented to the the public, and no doubt there will be lots of discussion. To learn more, take a look at the story on Curbed.

The MTA is working with local, regional and state agencies to formulate a plan for expansion of the 710 Freeway. The idea is to relieve congestion, promote faster cargo transit, and reduce toxic emissions. This is easier said than done, and after the problems with the 405 expansion, a lot of people may be wondering if it should be done at all. Many people who live in the area are concerned about the project, and probably no one is more concerned than the residents who could end up losing all or part of their property. In this article from EGP News, they talk about their fears.

And there's the larger issue of health impacts for all the people who live in the area. Many of the folks who live in the neighboring communities are already dealing with serious health problems due to poor air quality. Unltimately, the proposals being considered by the MTA will increase traffic volumes and vehicle emissions. The East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice are tired of getting shafted when it comes to environmental issues. Rather than accepting the proposals contained in the project EIR, they've come up with their own plan.

Housing is the hottest issue in LA right now. It's so hot, even the Mayor and the City Council might actually do something to address it. But will their proposals offer relief? Or are we just getting more of the same? Former planner Dick Platkin believes it's the latter.

The residents of Shadow Hills, a quiet, rural community north of Burbank, were not happy when they learned that a proposal had been made to turn a parcel zoned for agricultural uses into a film production campus. And they were even more unhappy when they learned that that company proposing the project was also planning to include storage space for event rentals. Line 204 LLC wants to construct two buildings over 100,000 sq. ft. each, along with spaces for 320 vehicles (including trucks), and they plan to have the facility in operation 24/7.

Of course, it doesn't matter how crazy a project is, the City will approve it. And the City Planning Commission gave this one the thumbs up back in 2015. But the residents are still fighting it. Maybe the sickest irony in this awful mess is that the site actually falls within an area designated by the City as part of its Clean Up Green Up program. According to the web page....

"Clean Up Green Up is a cutting-edge policy that addresses both public health and economic well-being in Los Angeles communities that have long struggled to go green."

The people of Shadow Hills are living in an area that's already green, and they're struggling to keep it that way, regardless of the City's efforts to turn their neighborhood into a 24/7 hub for film production and equipment rentals. If you'd like to support the residents in their fight, click on the link below.

L.A. CONSERVANCY TOOLKIT: EMBRACING THE FUTURE WHILE PRESERVING THE PAST

LA is changing rapidly. Neighborhoods from Downtown to the Westside, from Panorama City to Woodland Hills are seeing older buildings come down and new ones going up. Development is a necessary part of any city's evolution, but it's important for citizens to be involved in the process, and for their voices to be heard as decisions are made about future growth.

To help you get involved in the process, the Los Angeles Conservancy has produced an excellent on-line resource. Growing Up with Character is a great starting point for anyone who wants to better understand how our communities can embrace the future, and still preserve important resources from LA's past. There are four components: Neighborhood Issues, Conservation Toolkit, L.A.'s Community Plans, and Take Action. Together they offer a useful roadmap for those who want to understand their community better, and get involved in process of planning for the future.